how to true a backplate or faceplate for a dividing head

There's a ton of experience on this site and I am interested in what way folks would tackle this challenge.

I acquired a semi-universal dividing head, of indeterminate age, via ebay and at a very reasonable price. My only big challenge is that I have no means of gripping the work in it.

I have several spare chucks, but nothing that fits the dividing head spindle nose. I can buy a blank backplate and turn it to suit but have no idea how to true it once it's then mounted on the dividing head....on a lathe you would mount it on the spindle nose and then carefully turn the register for the chuck (excellent description at lathes.co.uk)

so far I have only three ideas:

• mount the dividing head on the milling machine (bridgeport clone) and carefully finish the register for the chuck using a large long series endmill and rotating the dividing head spindle
• dismantle the dividing head, extract the spindle and mount between centres with the chuck backplate attached.(I don't fancy my chances of readjusting it properly after reassembly)
• forget about the chuck and by a set of er40 collets and MT4 chuck to go into the dividing head spindle nose

Any input really welcome!

Thanks in advance

Mark

Have you checked the dividing head spindle and register for run out - it could well be OK?

If so then you should be able to manufacture the faceplate or chuck mounting plate on your lathe. You will probably need to make an adaptor for your lathe to replicate the dividing head spindle, but will care the faceplate or mounting plate should then fit OK on the dividing head.

If the head spindle and register are NOT OK then you have a whole different ball game to consider and you'll be into the scenario in your 1-3 in your post above, but if the spindle is out don't count on 3 as being viable, the MT socket coukld be out as well.

Keith

Thanks Keith

Yes, I've checked the dividing head and there is no discernable runout. I was concerned, having basically machined the new backplate, in truing the register face of the backplate once mounted on the spindle.... Having said that you've given me another possible solution

My lathe is a colchester student, with a L0 fitting, which is chunkier than the dividing head spindle nose (about 2 1/4" diameter and threaded). If I can make an adpator which screws onto the dividng head, and has an L0 taper on the front.... I can use any of my L0 chucks,faceplate or catchplate...

Regards Mark

It rotates so just set up a rig with your topslide say on tmill table and turn it in the normal way - just a bit slow. If you can disengage the worm as in the Elliott 4 1/2 in which has an MT4 nose you can turn it a bit faster with motor an some ingenuity.

thanks to Keith, Michael and Bayzle.I'll let you know how I get on.